Improvement in clasps



UNITED STATES PATENT F. BARTON BROWN, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT iN CLASPS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 210,665, dated December 10, 1878; application iled November 1S, 187B.

To all 'whom t may concern.-

Beit known that I, F. BARTON BROWN, of Boston, in the county ot' Suffolk, and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Olasps, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part hereof.

My invention consists in an improvement in the clasps described in my Patents Nos. 202,924 and 206,388; and consists in a clasp having V-sh aped pieces, pivoted together near the angle of the V, and adapted to interlock, in combination with a suitable spring to keep one jaw interlocked with the other.

In the drawings, Figure l is a plan, and Fig. 2 an edge view, of a clasp embodying my invention. Fig. 3 is a section on line xx, Fig. l. The` other iigures, except Fig. 9, which shows a modification, show details, Fig. 5 being a section on line y y, Fig. et.

A is a piece shaped from the sheet-metal blank shown in Fig. 7, and having at each end a toothed part, a a2, to act as a griping-jaw, and a smooth part, al a3, having a finger-piece, a* a5, to which pressure is applied to open the clasp. B is a piece made from the blank shown in Fi g. 6, and having a toothed part, b, to interlock with the part a., and a smooth part, b, with a nger-piece, b2. These two parts are held together by a pivot, O. D is a spiral spring attached to the piece B, all shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the piece B having formed in it, around the hole for the pivot, a recess, d, to which the spring is attached and about which it is wound, this part d having a projection, d, to keep the spring in place, this being a very convenient way of fastening the spring in the clasp. The other end of the spring acts upon the piece A. The piece E is formed from the blank shown in Fig. 8, and is also pivoted to the piece A by the pivot O, as shown. It has parts c, el, and c2, like the parts b, b1, and b2 of piece B, and it also has an ear, d2, against which the outer end of the spring D rests. The spring D, therefore, in this clasp acts upon the piece A through the piece E and its jaw e, one spring thus being sufficient for the clasp.

The mode of operation of this clasp is very simple, and will be understood by reference to the drawings. The jaws are bent slightly, so that their teeth will interlock, and they are separated to allow them to be attached to the sleeve-for example, by pressing on the inger-pieces c4 b2 or a5 c2. The spring D is compressed, and when the pressure is removed forces the jaws together.

The clasp so formed is very useful, particularly when a fiat clasp is desired instead of a thick one, like that shown in my Patent No. 206,388.

'Vhcn it is desired to make this clasp single instead oi double-for example, for a stocking-supporter-the piece E is omitted, the ear d2 on the outer end of the spring in this case being upon the piece A; and instead of thc parts a? a3, a loop, a, is made part of the piece A, the modification so formed being shown in Fig. 9.

i That I claim as my invention isl. In combination, the V-shaped pieces A B, pivot O, and spring D, one jaw of A being between the two parts ot' B, and vice versa, all substantially as described.

2. In combination, the double V-sha-ped piece A, the two single V-shaped pieces B and E, pivot C, and spring D, the jaw a lying between the two parts oi' B, and vice versa, and the jaw a2 lying between the two parts of E, and vice versa, all substantially as described.

F. BARTON BROWN.

Witnesses:

GEORGE O. G. OoALn, U. H. SLADE. 

